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University College Cork

Social Work Studies

Course Outline
The Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies (PGDSWS) is a two-year full-time course that combines academic study with fieldwork placements. The PGDSWS course is accredited by the Health and Social Care Professionals Council (CORU). The course leads to an academic qualification and will make you eligible to register as a social worker with regulatory bodies in Ireland (CORU) and internationally.

N.B. Applicants should check the entry requirements below to ascertain if they should apply for the Masters in Social Work OR the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies option. N.B. Applicants should ONLY apply for ONE of these options as it is the same selection procedure for both options (FINAL YEAR STUDENTS) or current Higher Diploma in Social Policy students should apply for the Master's level (MSW) programme).

Students on the PGDSWS take modules in social work theory, skills, social policy and courses specific to social work settings such as child and family welfare and mental health.

On completion of the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies course, you will be able to:
apply knowledge of social systems and human behaviour to promote social change, problem-solving in human relationships and the empowerment of people to enhance their well-being
apply knowledge of social policy to critically examine and respond to the impact of social and political contexts on service users and social workpromote principles of social justice, human rights and anti-oppressive practice as intrinsic elements of social work practice
demonstrate core social work practice proficiencies in the areas of: professional autonomy and accountability, interpersonal and professional relationships, effective communication, personal and professional development, provision of quality services, knowledge, understanding and skills
demonstrate knowledge of theory, legislation, policy, official inquiry reports and international conventions, and apply it to assessment and intervention planning in social work practiceillustrate a reflective approach to learning that is self-directed, strengths-based and reflective.

For further curriculum details see the Postgraduate College Calendar

ALL prospective applicants should also check the School of Applied Social Studies website at: http://www.ucc.ie/en/msw

This website has been designed to answer most of the questions you may have about the PGDSWS, social work and applying for the MSW/PGDSWS.

Fitness to Practise

This programme is subject to the University's Fitness to Practise Policy - full details may be found Postgraduate Studies in Social Work Fitness to Practice details.

**All Applicants please note: modules listed in the course outline above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course, but these are subject to change from year to year. Please check the college calendar for the full academic content of any given course for the current year.

In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools and departments.

Why Choose This Course

The staff on the Master of Social Work/Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies provide a very successful and much sought-after course of professional education and training in social work. It is a leader in social work education in Ireland where it was one of the first courses to adopt a reflective approach to teaching and learning throughout the course, with the aim of supporting the development of skilled, reflective practitioners. The course has been accredited and commended by the Health and Social Care Professionals Council (CORU) for its delivery of a coherent, well-constructed and successfully executed course of professional social work education. The teaching and learning methods on the course are centrally concerned with building on students prior knowledge and experience, and with developing and extending skills and competencies. Preparing you to meet the requirements for professional registration under (CORU) is a central objective of the course. Our graduates are much sought-after by the major national and international employment agencies.

Entry requirements

Admission to the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies (CKC06) is confined to a limited number of students holding a BSocSc (Hons) Degree with an overall result of at least a 3H or its equivalent, such as (but not limited to) the BA in Early Years and Childhood Studies, BA Hons in Applied Social Studies in Social Care, or graduates with a conversion course, i.e. the Higher Diploma in Social Policy (or its equivalent)

Students who achieve a mark of at least 50% in each module in the First Year of the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies may be permitted to transfer to the Second Year of the MSW (CKE64) programme.

There is a selection process based on the following combined elements: academic performance and research capacity; certified social work related experience and initiative; knowledge of social work and motivation, commitment and suitability

IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants should NOT apply for BOTH the Masters (CKE64) and Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work (CKC06) options as it is the one selection procedure for both options. The Postgraduate Diploma option is aimed at graduates who have already completed their BSocSc level 8 degree (or equivalent) and achieved at least an overall 3H result.

Both Applicants who have graduated with at least a 2H2 in their BSoSc level 8 (or equivalent) or 2H in the Higher Diploma in Social Policy (Level 8) (or equivalent) and Current FINAL year students pending their final results in Summer 2018 should apply for the Masters Of Social Work option (CKE64) ONLY.

Final year candidates who are successful at interview will be allocated places on the MSW, conditional on achieving a minimum 2H2 in their final degree/Higher Diploma exams. Should they obtain 3H in their final exams, they will be allocated a place on the PgDipSocWkStudies. (See http://www.ucc.ie/en/cke64 for the MSW details)

IMPORTANT NOTE: For those that do not have the requisite BSocSc (level 8) or its equivalent, the Higher Diploma in Social Policy is a conversion course giving a foundation in the field of social policy for graduates who do not hold a social science degree and details of that programme are available at http://www.ucc.ie/en/cka02

GARDA CLEARANCE

All students on this programme will require Garda clearance in order to attend student placements. University College Cork has made arrangements with the Gardaí in relation to Garda Clearance procedures. All candidates who accept places on this programme must complete and sign GARDA CLEARANCE FORMS and return them to UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, CORK.

Please note: All students must have Garda clearance. Should matters arise in the Garda check form, a student may be asked to delay taking up a placement until a clearance is confirmed or, alternatively, they may be requested to leave the course. A further Garda clearance and fit-persons test will be undertaken by the professional registration body CORU upon successful completion of the course, should a graduate apply to use the title of social worker.

Click Postgraduate Studies in Social Work Fitness to Practice details for information on the Fitness to practise policies and procedures

All applicants should also consult with the Frequently Asked Questions about the Selection Process: FAQs

If you are applying with Qualifications obtained outside Ireland and you wish to verify if you meet the minimum academic and English language requirements for this programme please click here to view the grades comparison table by country and for details of recognised English language tests.

Non-EU Candidates

Non-EU candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to Irish university primary degree level. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language.

Duration

2 years Full-time

The PGDSWS is a full-time professional course that involves five full days in college or five full days in practice. Practice placements are an integral part of the course. You are required to complete two 14-week fieldwork placements, for at least one of which you will be required to move outside Cork. The course is split roughly 50/50 between college academic work and practice placements. Students on the PGDSWS go on placement to a wide variety of practice contexts all over Ireland and in year 2 have the option to do an international social work placement.

Number of credits

60 ECTS credits

Careers or further progression

Skills and Careers Information

On graduation, you will have been prepared for professional registration and be in a position to demonstrate the core social work practice proficiencies (CORU) in the areas of: professional autonomy and accountability, interpersonal and professional relationships, effective communication, personal and professional development, provision of quality services, knowledge, understanding and skills. You will be able to exhibit a good knowledge of theory, legislation, policy, official inquiry reports and international conventions, and apply it to assessment and intervention planning in social work practice. Consequentially, you will be well prepared to respond reflectively and reflexively to a variety of social work situations in a diversity of social work settings, including multi-disciplinary contexts. Fields of social work which have attracted and employed our graduates to date include medical, mental health, child protection, probation, physical and intellectual disability, community social work and primary care.

Further enquiries

Ger Mannix
g.mannix@ucc.ie
+ 353 21 490 2899
http://www.ucc.ie/en/msw

Assessment method

You will undertake a wide variety of academic and practice assessments. You are assessed through group projects, enquiry-based learning assignments, reflective portfolios and learning journals, essays, research presentations, and a minor dissertation.

Application date

Closing dates

Closing Dates for Application

Applications for 2018 start dates will open on November 1st 2017.

EU Applicants: UCC operates a rounds closing date system for the majority of postgraduate taught programmes (detailed below).

Some programmes have a specific closing date. Applicants are advised to consult with the postgraduate prospectus for programmes with a specific closing date.

The UCC rounds EU application system closing dates for Postgraduate Taught courses are detailed below. However, we would advise applicants to apply as soon as possible.

Deadline for receipt of Applications: Offers will be made:
For all completed applications received by January 15th 2018 Offers will be made by January 29th 2018

For all completed applications received by March 1st 2018 Offers will be made by March 15th 2018

For all completed applications received by May 1st 2018
Offers will be made by May 15th 2018

For all completed applications received by July 2nd 2018
Offers will be made by July 16th 2018

Late applications may be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for any courses that have remaining capacity for places.

While there is no official closing date for Research courses applicants are advised to submit their application at least two months ahead of their proposed start date. There are four official Research start dates September/October, January, April and July.

Non-EU Applicants:

Please visit the following page for further information for Non EU applicants http://www.ucc.ie/en/international/studyatucc/postgraduateprogrammes/tau...